Interpreting and printing machine



F. B. PORTERFIELD El AL 2,821,908

INTERPRETING AND PRINTING MACHINE Feb. 4, 1958 Filed Jan. 19, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRED BI PORTERFIELD 8 .WILLIAM B. JONES their ATTORNEYS Feb. 4 1958 F. B. POIRTERFIELD ET AL 2,821,903

INTERPRETING AND PRINTING MACHINE FRED B. PORTERFIELD a BY WILLIAM B. JONES thir ATTORNEYS 19-58 F. B PORTERFIELD AL 2,821,908

INTERPRETING AND PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1956 4 Shets-Sheet :5

INVENTORS 34 FRED B. PORTERFIELD a I Q/ WILLIAM B. JONES their ATTORNEYS 1958 F. B. PORTERFIELD ET AL 2,

INTERPRETING AND PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19, 1.956

INVENTORS, FRED B. PORTERFIELD 8x WILLIAM B. JONES their ATTORNEYS United States Paterrt fi Fid B. Ptfirtei-lild;Vestal, 'and William? B. Jones, Eiiiii Y; assignors to International Business Ma-i chinesCorporation; New York, N .Y.", a corporation" This invention relates 'to" automatically. controlled inachines which combine interpIetiIigQand' printing operations'; andtmore'iparti'culai'ly t'o" amachine of that'general organization "for' pri nti'nglon 'a carrier, for example, ja record card,"'indi'cia'v which'correspon'ds' to information" represented in" :codeftform'. on the" same or a different: carrier.

In modernibusiness systems, ithas"'.been found con; venient' to store various kinds of information "in code" forrn; such as"by"perforations,"in a "record"card,i"andi' these record cards'fin'the' usual courseof' their use,"are" adapted to be"handled-bybusiness machines: It 'is' some: timesdesirable, however; to=reproduce the 'coded'inform'aation in readable form on the same or a dilferentrecord card? Fohexample} coded record" cards are used" as time card's, job cards, 'orfor storing various informationre'-' garding a' particul'aremploye'e, and' the'se card's are handled regularly "bi/person's 'who have the responsibility of re'-- cording theinformation therein. The handling of--t e" cards by thesei'personsiskgreatly facilitated by marking theemployees identification: or other designator 'in' readableifo'rm on the faceiof the cardg pretle'rably near -the mar row lcft-hand edgevinasmuch as -they-r "are: oftenstored in vertical slots or pigeonholestiiwith that edgeup: A

The presentrinventionzprovides an? apparatus awhich in-t eludes: 1 a rotary: zassembliyi drivennco ntinuouslyt at #high speed; a plurality ofitypebarslcarriedi by thet rotaryz'assemr-t bly; each bearing=assontedaindicia the'reomzra sensing unit: for readingrt-heinformation previously recordedin codezinta record card; andnanvinterpretingrmechanism forirtransez latingtthe information read by the sensingzrunit i ntot' aps: propriate adjustments of "the :type -bars: so that-atheyzwill printlselectedindicia one card fed to the rotaryassemblyr,

It .is a. .featurev of the. present invention 1 :thati thei' interpretirig mechanism is toperative to;translate the in-s formation reads-by. the sensing .unittinto appropriate ad-t justments of the typebars,notwithstandingthe fact that, the typebarsare' carried by a rotary assembly which is driven' continuously at high" speed. Accordingly,"to facilitate the interpreting of the information read by the sensingnlnit into the-appropriateadjustments of the =typebars carried? by 'th'e rotary assembly; a portion ofach complete cycle of operation: of J a tbank of typebars, ina advance ofithe portion :ofitheacyc'le iatz'whichthel printing operation: 21668". place; isatallocatedrwtto the adjustmentof: thewtypebars-Punder: theficontrolt ofi the. sensing unitri The: timing of the-apparatus is.-.such\ that the codedaecord. cardiwhich controls the printing operation iS,=di.iVCI to" th sensingi unit simultaneously .withlthe arrival of 4a banlc'of 'typebars at'the beginning of the portion ofi'the cycleduring Wliich' the interpretation"takesplace; As soon "as" the typebarsfhave--arrivetl ar'thi's portion "of the cycle," the entire bank thereofbegins to move in' such fashion'that leachtypebarwill'advance from one extreme position to anoth'erg therebs presenting successivelyveaclr of the .type:characters:therenn'iatc an. mperativerpositiony. unlessnatheetypebaniis :locked .Lselectedriintermediatet position As sthettecordi'card i advanced} relativeetoathe ice 2Lr sensingnmit; the" code perforations-in the control "card" will actuateflockingdevices associated with'each of'the' typebars "to'tbe utilized" in the printing" operation," and"?! line "of-typecomprising the selected indicia of the typebarsit is 'therebysetup: At the'cornpletion'ofthe interpreting"? portion of-th'e cycle; the vtypebars'are presented at" the printing position simultaneously with the; presentation of:

thecard to receive the printing-impressionfromtheftype barsgand'the line of-type' is printed thereon? Inasmuch as the "interpreting" and printingoperations arepe'rformed by the apparatus of the" present invention without stopping or interruption in the speed ofoperation of the rotary assembly; 'it'is evident" that. information can be-iriterpreted and printed" at. great "speed"on"theirecord cards fed theretoin rapid succession;

F or a complete understanding ofJthe present invention, reference may be' m'ade. to the detailed description which follows andtotheaccompanyingdrawings in which:

Figured isacross-section front elevation of the ma chine with the front frame broken'away;

Fig'ure"2 "is'a "radial"cross=section' view taken through therotaryassemblyg it is taken substantially along'the line 2 2 of FigureS looking in the direction 'of' the arrows;

Figures 3,. 4 and '51 arecross-section viewstak'en' sub s'tantiallyaloh'gthe"'liries'3 3, "4 4 and 5 5,, respectively, of Figure 2.1ooking in the direction of the arrows;.

Figure 6 is an'illiistrativ'eiyiewshowing the parts which control the'nrovement' of the typjebarsa Figure "7 is a view simil'ar t'o'Figuref6 illustrating the relativepositions' ofthe parts when .thetrotary' assembly carries three printing; segments;

FigureS is' a fragmentaryview'ofa codedlrecord card which, controls the. interpreting and printing" operations i'nLrelationto the sensingjunit; and,

Figure';9 is a view taken along the line 9 -9 fofsFigure l somewha't enlarged, 'lo'okingwin the ditectionJof the arrows."

Referring to the drawingsand particularlytoFigure l, the apparatus of the. present invention comprises generally a rotary assembly A which carries three printing isegments. 10a, 10b."and 10c thereon, each segmentaccommodati-ng. a bankof typebars 34'thereon, a sensingunit Cfoi read; ing information previously'recorde'd in code-in a records card" D, and an-interpreting mechanism Efor translating. the information read by the sensing unit canto appropri-.' ate adjustme-ntsof the typebars34 to-setsup, alirie of type. whichfis printed onta card, suchras D, fed betweentther rotary assembly A-and an impression ..rolleri llinounted ontthe shaft/12'. The. axis-of the shaft 12 canbe mounted yieldin'gly' to compensate for various thicknessesoftthe, cards D, D5. v

The record control .cards Dl intwhich-ylthe information tolbe interpreted has. been previouslyrodedare advanced one atatime. beneath the brnshesM-oflhe sensi-ngrunit C, l and each of-thebrushes 14. 'oflthe =sensin guunit'sweeps.- along .a. given vertical column of therecord card; As shown in; Figure 8,the card-Dv comprises atleast eight. separatesvertical columns, which, it will be assumed,.embody the information, suchias an-eightdigit identification numben representedtby the reference numeraLlS in Figure 8,;to baprin'tedionathetcardiDfi Theibrlush 14 associated; withneachiicolumn; controls Ithe readjustment not. atonespondin g typebar; and. the posittionnofia vperforationnin: each column d'etermines the .particula'rfindicia. on thentype bar ,to be selected for printing. For example,v thevrcard Dv isr shownin Fig'urefi in a positionrelativeto-the brushes 14-suchfthat the; horizontal 0 lineainthe rard isfldisl-l posed .beneath the..brushes. In this "position of therecord. cards 1),. the brush sweepingthe. .third column of the card ciated-lwithi the :third column of the record card Dj will be Patented Feb. 4,1958

locked in position to print the numeral 0." When the next horizontal line, i. e. the 1 line, passes beneath the brushes 14, the perforations 17 and 18 in the first and seventh columns, respectively, will pass beneath the brushes 14, and the typebars in the first and seventh columns will be locked in operative position to print the numeral 1. With the code perforations indicated in Figure 8, by the time the card D is advanced past the brushes 14 of the sensing unit, the eight typebars of the printing segment operatively disposed in relation to the interpreting mechanism will have been set by the sensing unit C to print the numerals 17034215. The control card D or a different card can then be fed to the position of the card D to receive this numeral imprinted thereon, as shown at 15.

Referring to Figure 2, the rotary assembly A is sup ported on a shaft 20, and the ends of the shaft 20 are rotatably supported in bearings 21 of the front and rear frames 22 and 23, respectively, of the machine. The extreme rear end of the shaft 20 carries a spur gear 24 thereon. The spur gear 24 is connected by means of a suitable drive transmission to a drive source (not shown) which rotates the shaft 20 at constant speed.

The rotatable shaft 20 supports thereon a front hub 26, a rear hub 27, and a disk 28 mounted thereon between the rear hub 27 and the rear frame 23. The hub 26 comprises front and rear flanges 26a and 26b, respectively. Also, the hub 27 comprises front and rear flanges 27a and 27b, respectively.

As mentioned above, the rotary assembly A comprises three printing segments 10a, 10b and 10c arranged thereon substantially 120 apart. These printing segments 10a, 10b and 10c are identical so that it is necessary to describe only one in detail. Each of these printing segments carries eight typebars 34 arranged substantially parallel to each other in a fore-and-aft direction. The typebars 34 are supported in guide slots 32 formed in the outer peripheries of comb sectors 30, and the typebars 34 are slidable in fore-and-aft directions in the guide slots. As indicated in Figure 2, the comb sectors 30 may retain rotatable balls 32a in the walls of the slots 32 to facilitate the sliding movement of the typebars within the slots.

In the present embodiment, each of the typebars is of a T-shaped cross-section and has the numerals to 9, inclusive, engraved in raised form on their outer edge. A blank non-printing space may also be provided thereon, if desired. Also, other type characters and indicia may be provided thereon. The narrow or inner edge of the typebars has notches 34a cut therein to permit the typebars to be locked in position to present the selected indicia thereon in alignment with respect to the impression wheel 11, it being understood that the line of type aligned with respect to the impression wheel is in the line of type printed on the card D'.

The typebars are individually urged rearwardly into contact with a slidable bail member 40 by means of tension springs 36 which are connected at one end to the typebars 34 and at the opposite end to a mounting plate 37 (see Figures 2 and 4) mounted to the disk 28.

The typebars 34 of one of the printing segments are adapted to be moved in unison in fore-and-aft directions by mechanism which includes the slidable bail member 40 supported on a pair of fore-and-aft rods 41, one on each side of the printing segment, and a stationary clindrical cam 42 which controls the movement of the slidable bail. The fore-and-aft guide rods 41 which support the slidable bailmember 40 thereon extend between the forward flange 27a of the hub 27 and the disk 28. The cylindrical cam 42 is hollow, and it surrounds the rotatable shaft 20 at one end. The extreme rear end of the cam is formed with an outwardly extending flange 42a which is mounted to the rear frame 23 of the machine by means of bolts 46. i The outer surface of the bail member 40 carries a rotatable roller 43 which engages the forward edge of the cam 42, and the roller 43 is maintained in contact with the forward edge of the cam by means of a-tension spring 44 connected between the bail member 40 and the disk 28. During a complete cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly A, the roller 43 follows the edges a, b, c and d (see Figure 7) of the cam 42 to control the operation of the bail member 40.

As mentioned above, the slidablbe typebars 34 associated with the printing segment are all urged rearwardly in registered contact with the sliding bail member 40, and, therefore, the typebars will follow the bail member 40 as the position of the latter is determined by the edges a, b, c and d of the cam. In advance of the interpreting and printing portions of the cycle, the bail member 40 is maintained at its forward most position by engagement with the edge a of the cam. At this position the typebars are all maintained at an extreme forwardly position so that the Os thereof are forward of the impression roller 11.

When the rotary assembly A, however, carries the printing segment to the beginning of the interpreting-portion of the cycle of rotation, that is to say, that arc, represented by the reference symbol 80 in Figure 1, in the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly during which the interpreting mechanism E is operative to set up the typebars to correspond with the information being detccted by the sensing unit C, the roller 43 of the sliding bail 40 engages the sloping edge b of the cam 42. The sloping edge b of the cam permits the bail member 40 to move rearwardly, thus moving all of the typebars 34 in unison in a rearwardly direction, until all of the typebars have been locked in the desired position by the release of the spring actuated pivotal latch 50 associated therewith.

The lower or inner edge of each of the typebars 34, as mentioned above, includes a plurality of notches 34a, one corresponding to each of the characters engraved on the typebar, and during the rearward movement of the bank of typebars as controlled by the rearward movement of the sliding bail 40, any of the typebars can be stopped'to present any ofthe indicia thereon in operative position with respect to the impression roller 11 by the release of the spring actuated pivotal latch 50 into engagement with one of these notches. Each of the latches 50 (see Figure 2) is pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 51, and the latch is urged by a compression spring 52 upwardly into engagement with the notched edge of a typebar 34. The forward edge of each of the typebar latches 50, however, carries a forward projection (see Figure 2) which forms a shoulder 53, and the latch 50 is normally held in a downwardly inoperative position by the engagement of this shoulder with the rearmost extremity of a fore-and-aft slide bar 55.

The slide bars 55 associated with each of the printing segments 10a, 10b and 10c are mounted in guide slots formed by aligned slots in the base of the comb member 30 and in the outer periphery of the hub 26. The slide bar55 is urged rearwardly by a tension spring 56 (see Figure 2), the rearward end of the slide bar 55 engaging the shoulder 53 of the respective latch and thereby maintaining the pivotal latch 50 out of operative engagement with the respective typebar 34.

Until locked in a given position by the latches 50, the typebars are permitted to retreat rearwardly in a bank in registration with the bail member 40 as the bail member retreats by the engagement of the roller 43 with the sloping edge I) of the cam 42. The sliding bail member 40 continues to retreat until the roller 43 engages the low portion 0 of the cam 42, which edge or surface represents the extreme rearwardly position of the sliding bail member 40. The distance of travel of the sliding bail member 40 while the roller 43 is in engagement with the sloping surface b of the cam 42 is suflicient to move the typebars from one extreme position to another, which in sequence' i11 operative i'elatio'nshiti to the irripiessioifi roller 'lll While tlietypeb'ars '34 are -t hu's moved fearwai'dly, the record'- card D" containing-"the information in co'cl'e therein the distance between successive indieia the'reon'." As men'- tioned" above,'th'ere i's one -br'u sh14 a'ssociatedwith each column of therecord card-DE 'and -the rei's onecolumn foieachtypebarfil l in the printin'g segmen'tl Thus, as soon as-the brush 14 associated with' a particular type bar detects a perforation in the cardfthe latch"50' 'ass'o ciated with that typebar will be released by 'the'forward moVem'en't of the'- respective slide bar SS; and the latch 50 will be urged upwardly by the-compression spring" 52 into engagement' witli a notch 34aof the-typebar. when the latch S engages the not'ch; the =typebart is loc':'loe d',- preventing further rearward 'travel' 'of th'e' 'typebar, not withstanding the fact that the slidirig' ba-il member itl may continue to retreat;

Thus, while the roller43 of the sliding bailln'ien'ibet= 40 is in contact with the sloping surface b of "the cam 42;" all of "the-typebars 34 will be" locked in a printing" ost:- tioh; it being understood that-a line --of selected digitstar other indi'cia-of the" typebars willbe alignedwith 'respe'ct to -the 'impression rolleflll This line of' type' is also a-lighetl"with an'inkihg 'roIle'r- 60 (see 'Fi'gure l)' which inks the line of type. -The=ink impressions "of th'e'sese lected"digits-'of the typeba'r's are printed-mpona "card D advanced across-a platforml between the rotary assemblyA and the-= impression" roller 1-1 It is, of'course; evident that the record ca'rd B may be -adva nced from the sensing unit C tothe rotaryassembly A-to receive these 'inkimpressions, or a separatecard'D' maybe fed to 'the rotary 'assembly' A to receive the ink impressionsof thetypeb'arsl I Tliinkingunit F, best shown"in Figure*1, comprises the inking"'roller "60;-anink trough-6T and "a transfer rollr66. Theroller 60"is' rotatably'supported' by one or'rn'ore levers 61 pi'votally mounted on "a shaft 62 extending'fbetween'thefront and rearframes of the machine.- A"tensi'on"spring 64 maintains the lever '61' in its 'extreme count'erclockwise position, which position is deter mined by-- the-enga'gementof' the lower end of thelever 6I 'witlfthe setscrew 63; When, however, the typebars 34 mm into contact with the inking wheel 60, the lever 61*is piv'o'ted in a clockwise position so that the wheel 60 engagesthe" transfer roller 66"partly immersed in the inkin'g1trOugh'67i' Ink is thereby transferred from'the trough- 67 via the roller 66 to the ink-roller 60*which is irf-rollingcontact with'the line of selected type charactors.

W'turn'inoWto' a description of the interpreting mech an'isnrEI As" mentioned above, a selected typebar 34' of a printing segment is locked in operative position by a latch 50 relea'sed *by thefo'rwardmlovement of one of the slide 'barsf55. Theslide'bars 55 are", in turn, aetuatetf by"pivotal release elements70, each having an" operative 'arcuately-' curved edge 70b. The forward ends offt'h'e slide'b'ars55 are provided with inwardprojections 55 32 'lwhich'gwh'err the" rotatable printing segment: is operatively'tlisp.o'setl*witli respect to the stationary interpreting mecliinism Ejf'areeach disposed immediately forward of the" 'eurved'opei'ative edges 7 0a of fdiflerentrelease 'ele-' ments'flh The'relea'se elements 70 in their "normal in operative positionsaresu'bstantially parallel to" each other=*and':"arespacedapart: Furthermore; the projec tionsS5d of the "slide bars of each printing segment 'are' spaeedapart and'iridexed'before' they comerinto operative relationship"Mtli "respectto the:*release elements 70"; so tliiit tliz'projectioiis"-'55ii"are each. able-4o enter" a space immediately forward of 'thew release-"element by means ofawhi'ch' it 'is' adapted to be actuated.

Assbest' shownin Figures l and 9, the-release elementst 70 ar'e each pivotally" mounted on' separate' shafts .71- mounted in a stationary frame 73'.v As. best :shdwrrin: Figure :9, 'the forward end of-'the'stationary frame-73 is mounted itoitherear face ofthe frontframe -ZZ of the ma chine. The fram-e 73, therefore, islstationary' and in fixed relationship-with th'e cam 42; so that the slide bars 55 willt be in operative*relationship with-respect tothe releaseele; ments '70whileuthe-movement of the =typebars '34-is controlledriby the ed'gebof thecam. -The-curved edges 70a; of thetpivotal release elements 70 -afford ideal actuating members for the slide bars 55 in thatthey maintain :anoperative' pos-ition' with. respect to the slide'- bars-"551 throughout; the arc: represented by 1' the 1 reference. nu-e meral-sz Eachffoftthe spivotal--releaseelements 70 -is adapted to bractuatedcby 'an electromagnet 85, and: each of the? electromagnets is; in: turn,-venergized by an electrical cir-' cuit completed-*by'the-contact between a corresponding; brush- 14 'of the' sensing unit C'vwiththe platform P. Thereis a brush '14 associated with? each of the=electro'-, magnetsgand when that brush-encounters a perforae tion in the" record card D-the related electromagnetis energizedd TheelectrornagnetsSS are arranged in two banks-of founvandanthey are supported by the frame "73. The electromagnets are each connected to one of: the release' elements: 70 by a slide 81, and the slides 81 are guided, by a slotted comb member 82' attached to the frame :73; Thecomb member 82 contains a large central opening to' xpermit 'the. rotatable shaft 20 to pass freely there throughi The forward endofeach of theslidesu'81is connected to an armature 84 of one of the electromagnets 85. The armatures 84 are pivotally mounted at 86, and-the. extreme lower end of each is :attached to a. spring. 87 which normally urges the armature 84-inaninoperative or. counterclockwise position, as viewed'in Figure-9. The slides 81, therefore, normally are maintained in-a. rearwardly position determined by theengagement ofl-a projection 81a formed thereon with the-l frame member 73.

The slides-81 pass through, aligned slotsin the'release elements 70. Each of the slides 81 is'provided: with a pair of downwardly projectinglears 81b; one on each side of the pivotal release element 70 which itis adapted to actuate, which extend below the 'lowerend-of the notch formed therein. Thus, the energization of one=of the electromagnets will displace the respective slide; This displacement of the slide, in turn, pivotally actuates one of the release elements 70'into contact with-the'pro jection 55a of the respective slide bar 55, and this operation, as explained above, releases the-latch 50' to loclc the corresponding typebar in position'to print the: desired type character thereon.

Summarizing the operation of the presenti invention as thus far described, the control 'cardi D is'fedbeneath the brushes 14 of the sensing unit C while the typebars of one of the printing segments are in operative relation ship with respect to the release elements of the interpreting mechanism B. As the card'is scanned line byline by the brushes 14, the movement of the bai1 40 as.- controlled by the edge b of the cam 42 permits the typebars 34 to move in timed relationship therewith. The-detection of a perforation in the card by any one'of the -br'ushcs will: energize one of the electromagnets 85, and the pivotal movement of the operation of the armature of the electromagnet will shift the slide 81 associated with the electromagnet, pivoting one of the release elements 70 aboutitspivot shaft 71. This pivotaloperation of the release element 70 will engage the projection SSa ofone of the. slidebars 55, slidingit forwardly to release, the..1atch..5tl.: The latch 50 engages onel of the' -notch'es'34'a 'formediui the typebar, determined by the displ'acemeut' ot the' type- 7 bar from its start position, to lock it in operative position. When all of the typebars of a printing segment are locked in operative position, a line of type is set up for printing, and this line of type is inked by the roller 60 and then printed on the card D'.

After the printing operation, the slidable bail member 40 is advanced by the engagement of the roller 43 thereof with the surface d of the cam 42. This forward movement of the slidable bail member 40 will return all of the typebars 34 to their starting reference position, that is to say, forward of their position, before the printing segment comes into operative relationship with the interpreting mechanism E during the succeeding cycle of operation. During the resetting of the typebars to their initial position by the return movement of the bail member 40, the latches 50 are in slipping engagement with the notched edges of the typebars, and the typebars are reset with the shoulders 53 thereof locked beneath the slide bars 55 by the camming action of the portions of the lower edges of the typebars rearwardly (or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2) of the first notches therein.

Figure 7 illustrates the relative positions of the rollers 43 of the sliding bail members 40 associated with each of the printing segments 10a, 10b and 100 when the printing segment 10a is at the printing position. The roller 43a represents the roller of the bail member carried by the printing segment 10a, 43b represents the roller of the bail member associated with the segment 10b, and 430 represents roller of the bail member associated with the segment 10c. At the positions indicated in that figure, the roller 43b is just beginning its rearward movement in contact with the edge b of the cam 42 and the roller 430 is in contact with the edge d of the cam 42, thereby resetting the typebars 34 to their initial positions.

The relationship of the linear movement of the control card D past the brushes 14 and the linear movement of roller 43b along the cam edge b is also shown in Figure 7. As explained above, if any of the brushes 14 engages a perforation at the 0 line of the card, the respective typebars 34 will be immediately locked against rearward travel with the 0 in operative position for printing. The card D is fed at a fixed speed in relation .to the travel of the roller 43b along the surface b of the cam 42, so that when sliding bail member 40 is in the position indicated by the reference point x in Figure 7, the control card will have advanced to the 1 line thereon and the typebars will have been moved to present the numeral 1 in the operative position for printing. If, therefore, any of the brushes 14 encounters a perforation in the card, the corresponding typebars will be locked in position to print the numeral 1. Similarly, if any of the brushes encounters a perforation in the control card when the roller 43b is at the point x, the corresponding typebars will be locked in position to print the numeral 2, etc., until each of the typebars is locked in the desired adjusted position to set up a line of type.

The invention has been shown in a single preferred form and by way of example only, and obviously many modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is evident that any indicia and any number thereof may be carried by the typebars, including blank or nonprinting spaces. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited to any specified form or embodiment except in so far as such limitations are set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier selected indicia which corresponds to information in a coded carrier, a continuously driven rotary assembly, a plurality 0f typebars carried thereby in an orbital path past a printing position, each of said typebars having assorted indicia.'formed thereon, a sensing means independent of saidrotary assembly for reading information in a coded carrier, means for initiating movement of a typebar at a predetermined point during the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly, and means controlled by the information read by the sensing means for stopping the movement of the typebar at a predetermined point during the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly, whereby the interval between said points determines the indicia on the typebar selected for printing.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means controlled by the sensing means includes a plurality of actuating members independent of the rotary assembly, and a plurality of companion members carried by the rotary assembly, at least one of said groups of actuating members being extended for a predetermined arc to maintain the operative relationship therebetween for a predetermined portion of the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly.

3. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier selected indicia which corresponds to information in a coded carrier, a continuously driven rotary assembly, a plurality of typebars carried by the rotary assembly in an orbital path past a printing position, each of said typebars having assorted indicia thereon, means operative during a predetermined portion of said cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly for moving the typebars from a reference position, means associated with each typebar for locking the typebar in a selected position, sensing means for reading the information in a coded carrier, and means controlled by said sensing means and operatively coupled with the typebars throughout said predetermined portion of the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly for selectively actuating the typebar locking means after predetermined movements of the typebars from reference positions, thereby locking the typebars in positions to print selected indicia thereof.

4. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier indicia which correspond to information in a coded carrier, a rotary assembly, a plurality of typebars carried by the rotary assembly in an orbital path past a printing position, each of said typebars having assorted indicia thereon, means for initiating movement of said typebars in unison from a reference position at a predetermined point in the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly and for continuing the movement for a predetermined portion of the cycle of rotation intermediate the predetermined point and the printing position, means for locking each typebar in a selected position, means for actuating said typebar locking means, said means being mounted independently of the rotary assembly and being in operative relationship with the typebar locking means throughout said predetermined portion of the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly, sensing means for reading the information in a coded carrier, means for feeding the coded carrier relative to the sensing means in timed relationship with the movement of the typebars from the reference position, and means controlled by the sensing means for operating the means for actuating the typebar locking means to adjust the typebars to positions to print selected indicia thereof.

5. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier indicia which correspond to information in a coded carrier, a rotary assembly, a type carrier mounted in said rotary assembly having assorted type characters thereon, means operative during a predetermined portion of said cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly for moving the type carrier from a reference position, means for locking the type carrier in a fixed position, first actuating means carried by said rotary assembly for controlling the operation of said locking means, second actuating means mounted independently of the rotary assembly for controlling the operation of said first actuating means, one of said actuating means including an arcuately extending portion which is in operative relationship with respect to said locking means during said predetermined portion of the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly, and means operative under the control of a coded carrier to operate 9 thtsecondt'zictuati rig means in timedlif'elation to th'emove mentor theatype carri'ei from. the reference positi'on', therebydocking the type carrier in position to prime-se lected character thereof? 6.- lAnv apparatus as set foftli"ir'iclaiin including feed meansifor advancing the coded carrier arelativ'ie matte sensing" means in'"tir'ned relation to'th movement of the type carrier from the reference position.

7. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier indicia which correspond to information on a coded carrier, a plurality of adjustable typebars, each of said typebars having assorted type characters thereon, means for biasing said typebars for movement in one direction, cam means mounted for relative movement with respect to said typebars for controlling the movement of said typebars under the influence of said biasing means, said cam means including a portion thereof for maintaining said typebars in a reference position and a portion thereof for permitting movement of said typebars from said reference position, typebar locking means associated with each of the typebars operable to lock the typebar in a predetermined position to select characters thereon for printing, and means controlled by the coded carrier for actuating selectively said type-bar locking means at predetermined relative positions of said typebars and said cam means to set up a line of type on said typebars.

8. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier indicia corresponding to information on a coded carrier, a rotary assembly, a plurality of adjustable typebars carried by said rotary assembly, each of said typebars having assorted type characters thereon, cam means mounted for relative movement with respect to the rotary assembly, means for urging the typebars into a position determined by said cam means, said cam means including a portion thereof for maintaining each of said typebars in a reference position and a portion thereof for permitting movement of the typebars from said reference position, locking means associated with each of said typebars for locking them in an adjusted position, and means controlled by the coded carrier for rendering said locking means operative at predetermined relative positions of said r0- tary assembly and said cam means to set up a line of type on said typebars.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the cam means includes a portion thereof for restoring the typebars to said reference position.

10. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier selected indicia which correspond to information in a coded carrier, a frame, a rotary assembly mounted in said frame, a plurality of spring urged typebars movably mounted in the rotary assembly, each of said typebars having a plurality of type characters spaced apart thereon, typebar registering means, cam means mounted independently of the rotary assembly for moving said typebar registering means, whereby during a predetermined portion of the cycle of rotation of the typebars the typebars will be permitted to move in unison from a reference position to a position of maximum displacement, locking means associated with each of the typebars, and means controlled by a coded carrier for actuating selectively said locking means at predetermined positions intermediate said reference position and said position of maximum displacement, thereby setting up a line of type to be printed.

11. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier selected indicia which correspond to information in a coded carrier, a frame, a rotary assembly mounted in said frame, a plurality of notched typebars movably mounted in said rotary assembly, each of said typebars having a plurality of type characters spaced thereon and a notch therein corresponding to each of said characters, means for biasing said typebars for movement in one direction, a cam mounted to said frame for controlling the movement of said typebars under the influence of said biasing means, said cam during the rotation of said rotary assembly maintaining said typebars in a reference position during 10 v a porfio'i't sent-s cycleof rotation "of'fhe"rotary'assembty and ermitting movement'o'tlsaid 't'yp'eba'rsimunis'on new said reference position"- to a displaced 'positio'ndurin'g an other portion of 'aidtiycl'eof rotation of the*rota-ry' as= sembly, a pivotal latch member associated with each typebar, a bank 'of r ele'ase elements mounte'd'in said frame, the release elements' be'ing in operative-relationship with the ilatch members during that portion oflthe cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly during which the typebars are movable in unison by said cam from said reference position to a displaced position, and means controlled by a coded carrier for selectively operating said release elements, thereby separately releasing each of said latch members in timed relationship to the movement of said typebars from said reference position, the engagement of said latch members with said notched typebars locking the typebars in position to print a line of type.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the release elements are formed with an operative curved portion to maintain said operative relationship with a companion latch member for a predetermined portion of the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including an ink roller for inking the line of type characters set up on the typebars.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means for restoring all of said typebars to the reference position after the printing operation.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including a plurality of printing segments carried by the rotary assembly, each printing segment carrying a plurality of adjustable typebars thereon, and wherein the latch members of each segment are translated in an orbital path relative to a common bank of releasing elements.

16. In an apparatus for printing on a carrier selected indicia which correspond to information in a coded carrier, a frame, a rotary assembly mounted in said frame, a plurality of printing segments carried by said rotary assembly, a plurality of notched typebars adjustably mounted in each printing segment, each of said typebars having a plurality of type characters spaced thereon and a notch therein corresponding to each of said characters, a cam mounted to said frame and surrounding the axis of rotation of the rotary assembly, a bail member slidably mounted on each of said printing segments, the position of said slidable bail member being controlled by the cam, means for urging each of the typebars of the printing segment into engagement with said bail member, said cam including a portion for maintaining said typebars in a reference position, a portion for moving the typebars in unison from said reference position to another position and a portion for returning the typebars to said reference position, a pivotal latch member associated with each typebar, a spring urged slide mounted within said printing segment and associated with each latch member, said slide being urged into engagement with said latch member to maintain it in inoperative position, a bank of release elements mounted in said frame, the release elements and the slides of a given segment being in operative relationship throughout that portion of the cycle of rotation of the rotary assembly during which the typebars are movable in unison from said reference position, the operation of one of said release elements moving a slide in operative relationship therewith to release a corresponding latch, permitting said released latch to engage one of the notches of a typebar, thereby locking the typebar in position to print a selected character thereon, and means controlled by a coded carrier for selectively operating said release elements.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein said means controlled by a coded carrier for selectively operating said release elements includes a bank of electromagnets.

18. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein said means controlled by a coded carried for selectively operate said typebars from said reference position. v

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,837 Bryce Nov. 30, 1926 12 Carroll Sept. 3, 1929 Kohler Feb. 3, 1931 Cunningham Feb. 10, 1931 Kohler Mar. 31, 1931 Bryce Feb. 7, 1933 Kalman June 18, 1935 Paris Nov. 30, 1954 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noo 2,821,908 February 4, l95'8 Fred. B, Porterfield et al It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 63, for "posittion"-reed poeition line '70, for

"detaching" read detecting 5 column 3, line 52, strike out flin"; line 63, for clindricel read cylindrical column 4, line 6, for "slidablbe" read slidable column 10, line 75, for "carried read carrier a Signed and sealed this 1st day of April 1958,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Hu AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Comissioner of Patents 

